Subscribe

Topic of the Week: American’s New Livery

134 comments on Topic of the Week: American’s New Livery
More Reading on This Topic:

Something tells me this is going to be a long comment thread. If you haven’t seen it, here it is. American’s new livery. Maybe we can get them to do a fly-by at Crankyspotting TOMORROW at 10a at Founders Plaza at DFW.

American Airlines New Livery

Now, what do you think? Personally, I hate that the eagle has been marginalized to the point that it’s unrecognizable. And the tail, well, yeah, the tail. I think I heard it put best in this excellent quote:

Colgan had sex with CSA and Cubana on a Greyhound bus in the same weekend and got pregnant. We know Colgan is the mother but we can’t tell who the father is. Nor do we care because the baby is still ugly either way.

Maybe it will grow on me. Or maybe it won’t last very long anyway…

Get Cranky in Your Inbox!

The airline industry moves fast. Sign up and get every Cranky post in your inbox for free.

Brett Avatar
Brett

134 responses to “Topic of the Week: American’s New Livery”

  1. BJ Avatar
    BJ

    Pro: Plays on brand America.
    Con: The AA logo etc is well known.

    Im for the existing but it might work.

    Reply
  2. cubbiefan98 Avatar
    cubbiefan98

    i miss that eagle! I like that they get a silvery look, but the logo is just some blobs of color!

    Reply
  3. JBBAHAMAS Avatar
    JBBAHAMAS

    Tail is growing on me. It looks better on the a/c then in the CGI. The logo is meh.

    Reply
  4. D-ROCK Avatar
    D-ROCK

    I may just be patriotic, but I like it. I don’t know about the new logo and how well it goes with the tail, but overall I like the livery and it looks like a bold redesign. I’d love to fly one…

    Reply
  5. BT Avatar
    BT

    The tail is certainly… distinctive, which is better than being unrecognizable. I actually like the typeface quite a bit. I have no nostalgia for the eagle, but the new logo seems to be abstracted into nothingness.

    Reply
  6. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    I like the tail. It’s the rest of the plane that’s awful. Looks like a bad Aeroflot copycat.

    Reply
  7. XJT DX Avatar
    XJT DX

    Maybe it’ll grow on me after another 45 years…

    Reply
  8. James Burke Avatar
    James Burke

    I like the font, and I like the silver/grey paint. The tail is a bit much for me though. I do like the American Eagle livery a bit more. With the ‘e’ over the window it looks like a ‘c’, but on Eagle, with the titles below the window it reads a lot better…

    Reply
  9. Ben Avatar
    Ben

    I like it, it’s very modern. Sure the tail is very in-your face, but it makes it recognizable. Kind of like Delta’s current tails.

    I’m curious to see what the livery of a combined US-AA fleet would look like. Will it be more of a combination of US and New AA or US and Old AA? Or somewhere in between? Seeing that according to Horton, the only involvement US had in this was the courtesy call Parker was given Wednesday evening as a heads up.

    Looking forward to hopefully seeing a glimpse in person tomorrow during Crankyspotting: Terminal Edition. Sorry I won’t be able to join you in person.

    Reply
    1. Nick Barnard Avatar
      Nick Barnard

      I hope that it ends up with the new American livery.. I think that this can co-exist with the current US Airways and AA liveries for a while.

      It might make sense to do a massive painting process, but this seems like it’d be a wonderful brand.

      Reply
  10. Ian L Avatar
    Ian L

    I don’t mind the tail (though, yes, the darned thing looks like it came straight out of Rex Kwon Do design studios). I don’t mind the font. I don’t mind the main body color. But the logo…it’s like they ran over the Eagle with a graphic designer’s SUV and that’s what they got. Sure, the eAAgle needed to be updated, but not like /that/.

    Reply
  11. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    At least their website got a nice new design. Simple and easy to use. Bravo!

    Reply
  12. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    The logo looks little bit like peeling paint

    Reply
  13. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    Does anybody else see Aeroflot 2.0?

    Reply
    1. Paul Avatar
      Paul

      Absolutely dreadful. They had clean & sleek and that’s gone. I could live with the front but the tail just kills it.

      Reply
    2. Andrew Avatar
      Andrew

      Yes, that’s all I see.

      Reply
  14. ChuckMO Avatar
    ChuckMO

    Maybe it will look better when you see a flock of those birds clustered around the gates but for now I’ll give it an overall C+.

    I’ll also say that nothing could have lived up to the fevered expectations among us av-geeks.

    Reply
  15. Jeremy McMillen Avatar
    Jeremy McMillen

    No more shiny bare metal :( I loved that about American I guess I can get use to the chrome but ehh who knows (Or am I being dumb here and it is shiny metal that with the CGI looks more chromeish

    And can anyone find the American Eagle new look I cant seem to find it any where

    Reply
    1. David M Avatar
      David M

      This article has a CGIed photo of a CRJ700 in the new American Eagle livery at the bottom:

      http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2013/01/17/american-airlines-to-unveil-new-look/1841591/

      Reply
  16. CP Avatar
    CP

    I like it. I like the logo — a nod to the past, but modern and suggestive of “going places” and aviation generally. I think the tail is distinctive; I particularly like that the tail scheme goes down the entire back of the plane instead of just being on the tail. I also like the new website and AAdvantage cards. There will be lots of headlines about doing this while in bankruptcy, etc., but it’s nice to see AA freshen its image. DL has invested a lot on this in the past few years and, as a result, DL’s ‘look’ (airport signage, china in premium classes, etc.) has a modernity to it that feels fresh. Good to see AA competing.

    Reply
  17. Perry Avatar
    Perry

    Absolutely horrible! The new logo looks like the old tails on United Airlines planes or maybe the Greyhound bus logo, the bastardized American flag on the tail is offensive, and the whole thing is an ugly mess.

    Did the bankruptcy judge actually sign off on American wasting money on this??

    Reply
    1. Simon Allardice (@simonallardice) Avatar
      Simon Allardice (@simonallardice)

      How on earth is the tail offensive? That’s just patriotism on steroids.

      Reply
    2. Nick Barnard Avatar
      Nick Barnard

      I am interested on the bankruptcy judge’s consent on spending the money for this.. They seem to have thrown a huge amount at it.. Lots of CGI everything… Bit overkill if you ask me.

      Reply
      1. Doug Avatar
        Doug

        Why wouldn’t the bankruptcy judge consent to the company spending money on the brand. Is this a serious question?

        Reply
  18. wyodog Avatar
    wyodog

    ho-hum fuselage; that tail, it’s just a messsss!

    Reply
  19. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I think this will be the merged paint job. It combines the American colors and the flag style logo of US Airways.

    Reply
  20. yo Avatar
    yo

    Hmmm, why do I have a sudden craving for a can of Pepsi?

    Bleah…but I never liked AA’s old livery.

    Best thing would be to use the throwback livery they have on a few planes, that is pretty bitchin’.

    Reply
  21. yo Avatar
    yo

    Oh, and not to open any old wounds….but the tail reminds me of Family Airlines! (no thread hijacking about Family Airlines is allowed!)

    Reply
    1. haolenate Avatar
      haolenate

      oh come on… we haven’t heard from Barry Michaels in a while. He must have gotten a job at AA. :-D

      Reply
  22. David SF eastbay Avatar
    David SF eastbay

    And how many millions of dollars did they pay some company to come up with that look? Someone at that company is a good salesman to talk AA into it…lol

    I was never a fan of the old AA bare metal, I like painted airplanes.

    The American Flag should sue AA for that tail logo.

    But overall it’s done it’s job, it’s getting everyone talking about AA and getting their name/photo in the news.

    Reply
  23. MeanMeosh Avatar
    MeanMeosh

    I don’t mind the tail – it’s an in-your-face style that’s different from the ultra conservative AA we’ve come to know. I look at it as a sign of an organization finally trying to change and move forward.

    The logo on the other hand. Oh, the humanity. They should have found a way to incorporate the entire eAAgle.

    BTW, I’m sure all of you have seen this already, but Terry Maxon had a fun take on the new tail:

    http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/a-tail-of-two-airlines.html/

    And I have to agree with him, it DOES sort of look like an attempt to combine AA and US in the design…

    Reply
  24. LT_DT Avatar
    LT_DT

    My wife and I saw the new logo on some signage at HOU this morning and we both immediately said “Greyhound.”

    Reply
  25. Bravenav Avatar
    Bravenav

    I find the tail blatantly disrespectful to the US flag (and isn’t it a ripoff of the former North American Airlines?). The logo up front looks like the peel off foil on a can of Pringles.

    Reply
    1. Simon Allardice (@simonallardice) Avatar
      Simon Allardice (@simonallardice)

      Wow, US Airways must really get on your wick in that case. It’s a hat tip to the flag, not a recreation. The world isn’t ending.

      Reply
  26. Carl Avatar
    Carl

    I don’t mind the new logo, in fact it is sort of growing on me (from bleh to meh). It does look better on the 738 than it did CGI’d on a 773.

    The font is okay. I think they could have gone with something with bit more “a-ha!”.

    However, the tail, that tail. Sure, its new and bold, but I don’t know if I will ever “love” it.

    The livery itself doesn’t seem to flow well at all. It is smooth and quiet across the entirety of the aircraft, and then BAM! some loud tail hits your eyes.

    At least Parker and Co. now have something to work with for the “New, New American Airlines”

    Reply
  27. Jake Redman Avatar
    Jake Redman

    The quote in your post is hilarious. I too immediately thought of the old red/white/blue Greyhound logo and made up a comparative graphic for my facebook page. I quickly found out I wasn’t the only one. I agree that the font is cool and the updated logo is tolerable, but the tail…oh that tail…yeah, no.

    Reply
  28. Nick Avatar
    Nick

    It looks a lot like a mix of Air France and Cuban Airlines…lol

    Reply
  29. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    Looks like a barber shop’s pole–maybe they can Boeing to make it spin.

    Reply
  30. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    I’m just curious where they got the money for the new paint jobs since they are in bankruptcy and aren’t making any money… Do they use union painters or is it part of the new pilots contract ;) (Pilots must fly and repaint planes)

    Reply
  31. Bobber Avatar
    Bobber

    The tail is rancid, cheap and tacky. Other than that, all cool.

    Reply
  32. Matt Avatar
    Matt

    I like everything except the tail…that darn, ugly tail.

    Reply
    1. Matt Avatar
      Matt

      Actually…the tail reminds me of the tail on BA plane. Coincidence??

      Reply
      1. Ben Avatar
        Ben

        Maybe not. It looks like BA’s current livery was also designed by Futurebrand.

        Reply
  33. AbFabSkyLife Avatar
    AbFabSkyLife

    Can’t help but notice the flag on the tail has 11 stripes. Chapter 11 stripes? (The flag has 13).

    Reply
  34. Shane Avatar
    Shane

    Is that a piano on the tail? Seriously, this looks like the work of a first year graphic design student. A lot of play and not much finesse.

    Reply
    1. Tom Avatar
      Tom

      Maybe since they are in bankruptcy they held a new logo contest at a Dallas Elementary School?

      Reply
  35. David SF eastbay Avatar
    David SF eastbay

    No matter how many people say they don’t like it or at least the tail, AA spokespeople will be right out saying “Everyone loves it” and “It’s what our customers ask for”.

    Those are the two standard answers for everything in the airline world isn’t it?

    Reply
  36. David SF eastbay Avatar
    David SF eastbay

    Maybe it looks better in person

    Reply
  37. Tom Avatar
    Tom

    Horton talks about rebranding and a possible merger… http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/horton-talks-about-rebranding-and-a-possible-merger.html/

    Reply
  38. Craig Avatar
    Craig

    If AA is going to drape themselves in the flag, it needs to be in a dignified way, like BA. This livery makes the airplane look like a parade float. That’s fine if you’re a low fare bargain airline, not so much if you are branding yourself as a “flagship” airline for global business travel.

    Reply
  39. Ryan Avatar
    Ryan

    Honestly I like it overall. I think the tail looks cool. I do however agree that it is nearly impossible to tell that that is still an eagle and they should have done more to keep it the same. I know Delta turned the widget at an angle on the tail, but they kept it in their logo next to the Delta Airlines words. I wish AA would have done the same and kept the classic eagle right next to American on the fuselage.

    Reply
  40. SA*AD Avatar
    SA*AD

    The whole look is absolutely horrible. There was a reason and pride behind a logo of 45 years: simple, classic and solid.

    The new eagle is shrunk to almost nothing. The red and blue surrounding provide color but no life and no resemblance to wings. Then there’s the tail.

    The tail looks like something from a fighter squadron about to launch from the Akagi featuring the Rising Sun emblem from the IJN!
    Nice message – here come American fighters, strafing and bombing an airport near you. Just horrible.

    Reply
  41. Pam Avatar
    Pam

    Pepsi Can with engines and a tail

    Reply
  42. Chicago Chris Avatar
    Chicago Chris

    I think I’d like it more if they put on the trademark “AA” with the eagle on the tail. The whole point of a paint job is so people see your logo and associate it with the brand…good luck getting the general public to remember what airline that is.

    Delta’s livery change still kept the classic delta symbol. United kept the CO globe because of its general recognition with the public, but this….yikes it could be any airline.

    Reply
  43. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    Yuck, the tail is a mess, and they managed to kill an eagle at the same time.
    Apparently no one at US Air is available for comment….

    Reply
  44. Cyrus Avatar
    Cyrus

    I was so in love with the old livery. I realize with the new composite materials that the polished aluminum look had to be replaced but I really don’t like this new look.

    Reply
  45. CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD Avatar
    CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD

    i was initially resistent.., but the more I study the fine points, the more I see something thoughtful going on.. Lined up at the gates, which is where we really see them, all those tails will make a very impressive graphic, especially since the design extends into the fuselage. The design is a departure from the last century into the new one. While in Charlotte on my last plane change, i heard that Doug Parker bought a home in Fort Worth months ago..

    Reply
  46. CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD Avatar
    CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD

    typo in last post: “resistant”.. mea culpa.

    Reply
  47. Scott Avatar
    Scott

    Ok, I’ll admit the tail leaves something to be desired. But I’ll give AA the credit for the daring design. Quite a change of pace for the usually uninspiring designs most U.S. carriers employ (see DL literally changing their colors every few years)! AA’s design has a futuristic appeal to me. Beats the ho hum look for most of the others!

    Reply
  48. DavidT Avatar
    DavidT

    The tail is revolting. The fuselage is barely passable.

    Reply
  49. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    I think rendering doesn’t give the new look justice. When I first saw it I thought it looked loud, especially with several planes blocked in. After seeing the 737 painted, I have to say its growing on me.
    http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7541329

    Reply
  50. Phill Avatar
    Phill

    I bet that this is something that US was in on, so I doubt we’ll see that change whenever this merger is announced. In my highly advanced, nuanced opinion (not at all…) I think the new logo should go on the tail, where it even looks like it belongs.

    Reply
    1. David M Avatar
      David M

      American has said that US Airways was not involved with the development of this design. Horton called Parker on Wednesday night to let him know about it, but that’s it.

      Reply
  51. Consuimer Mike Avatar
    Consuimer Mike

    I like it. Enough said.

    Reply
    1. EdFLondon Avatar
      EdFLondon

      Ditto, Mike. And I see the Eagle now. Clever.

      Reply
  52. John B. Avatar
    John B.

    What the “tail” were they thinking?

    Reply
    1. Henry Avatar
      Henry

      Well said.

      Reply
  53. HatCat Avatar
    HatCat

    Except for the circus tent draped around the tail, it looks fine. I wonder what’s under the circus tent?

    Reply
    1. Henry Avatar
      Henry

      Oh snap! Me too.

      Reply
  54. Simon Allardice (@simonallardice) Avatar
    Simon Allardice (@simonallardice)

    Looks alright to me.

    Reply
  55. Oliver Avatar
    Oliver

    It definitely has grown on me. It looked pretty neat in the YouTube CGI video.

    Reply
  56. DS Avatar
    DS

    It’s growing on me; it’s definitely more modern while still maintaining a connection to the past. I’ve been amused by reading the comments about the tail. Bottom line: it’s pretty hard to represent a red, white and blue flag on an aircraft tail in a unique way at this point in time. For that reason, it might have been better to go with a different concept. On the other hand, if you are viewed as the de facto “flag carrier” for a country you probably should have the flag somewhere on the livery.

    Reply
    1. PS Phoenix Avatar
      PS Phoenix

      Last time I checked though our flag had stars in the blue, not white lines that don’t line up with the other stripes. The tail design has grown on me a little since I first saw it (from revulsion to just general dislike). I like the idea of the flag, but it comes off as too rigid, especially on the 777 CGI. It looks off how it just kinda of cuts off about halfway down the fuselage. Also, the tail cone looks really odd being painted the same color as the rest of the fuselage behind the flag design, especially on the larger 777 animation. Maybe if the tail design and flowed onto the tail cone like British Airways it would have looked a little better.
      Overall, I think it would have looked loads better if it wasn’t so rigid and flowed into the rest of the fuselage better like British Airways or Emirates liveries.

      Reply
      1. Nick Barnard Avatar
        Nick Barnard

        Its definitely interesting.. I first wondered why the extension to the stabilizer over the fuselage wasn’t painted, but if you look at http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7541329 the flag tail is very sharply lined up from the angles on the stabilizer. IMHO, its actually sharper than painting the tail cone and the rest of it.

        Reply
      2. DS Avatar
        DS

        Yeah but then everyone would be complaining that they ripped off BA. Simple fact; you can’t please everyone.

        Reply
  57. Samara Citizen Avatar
    Samara Citizen

    At first I disliked the new livery. But then one thing slightly shifted my focus. With this new tail livery American becomes an almost true flag carrier at least in design (after Delta foolishly abandoned its superb wavy gravy tail design). I know that there are no flag carriers proper in the USA. But this new livery makes American feel and look like one.

    Reply
  58. David SF eastbay Avatar
    David SF eastbay

    Some of you kept talking about the eagle and I kept thinking what eagle. Then I went looking for other photos and now see what you are talking about. I just thought that splotch of red/blue next to the ‘n’ in American was just that, a splotch, but that’s where you’ve been talking about the eagle. They shouldn’t have added that since it’s not becoming.

    Reply
  59. Ronald de Neef Avatar
    Ronald de Neef

    Does it stand out among all the other tails???????

    Reply
  60. Bill Hough Avatar
    Bill Hough

    I didn’t even realize they kept the EAAgle, it’s so small. It needs to be bigger.

    Reply
  61. James Ewart Avatar
    James Ewart

    Designers have managed to tastefully incorporate the AA and the eagle in every rebrand for the last 80 years. This goes to show just how unimaginative this design firm’s tallent really is. Sad to find no trace of AA’s identity retained except for the name. I’m surprised they managed to keep the American name in the rebrand.

    Reply
    1. rogerintrenton Avatar
      rogerintrenton

      There is some continuity actually in the design. Although the Eagle is far more abstract it is there, the primary colors of the design have stayed the same, and the font is the same as well. Still unsure about the tail, but the rest of the livery is actually fairly smart, IMO.

      Reply
  62. RICH Avatar
    RICH

    Employees took millions in pay and benefit cuts for this…..??
    Cross between New England Patriots and Pepsi can…on that Tail
    Wonder where the US Air Logo will go…?
    AA Management sure knows how to waste money.

    Reply
    1. DS Avatar
      DS

      No, employees took pay and benefit cuts because their compensation and productivity / work / scope rules were out of line with AA’s major competitors. Are you saying that AA shouldn’t be spending money to improve their product? The truth is AA should have done this a long time ago but they didn’t have the money to invest, which is why they should have filed for bankruptcy a long time ago. Anyway they had to do it now because the new planes have composite skins.

      Reply
  63. Ulev Avatar
    Ulev

    For all of you who ‘like’ AA’s new livery…..this is where the ‘idea’ came from

    http://www.planespotters.net/Aviation_Photos/photo.show?id=164768

    Not too ‘original’ and preceded by Aeroflot, of all things LOL

    Reply
    1. Samara Citizen Avatar
      Samara Citizen

      This was probably the only plane with this experimental livery that was never adopted, because everybody favours the classic Aeroflot logo that stayed.

      Reply
  64. MartyNearDFW Avatar
    MartyNearDFW

    The new livery has grown on me, especially after seeing photos of it on an actual aircraft, not the CGI.

    I like the new typeface. It’s close enough to the iconic Helvetica to not be alienating, but the humanist typeface they’re using is warmer and more modern. Sorry, I’m a graphic designer and a type geek as well.

    I like the look of the logo on the left side of the aircraft. On the right sight, the bit with the eagle looks disconnected. The logo should look good on signage, in airports and on overall branding.

    The tail? Like I said. I think it looks better on a real 737, not a CGI one. I can’t wait to see one of these birds in the wild! =M=

    Reply
    1. Sanjeev M Avatar
      Sanjeev M

      Agreed, seeing it on actual aircraft is nice. Paint is a wonderful thing.
      I’m mixed about the tail but the rest of it is really nice!

      Reply
  65. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    Sorry, it’s ugly and unfocused. Almost as bad as the Wolff paint jobs at US and UA during his tenure at those cos.

    Reply
  66. Bobsmith Avatar
    Bobsmith

    It’s not great, but it is fresh- which speaks to how dated AA’s old livery was. Now if AA can refresh their service and fleet (yes I know it’s on the way).

    Reply
  67. tomhmartin Avatar
    tomhmartin

    Well, as a former AA employee, and resident of the DFW Area, I love the new design. Yes, I realize gone are the days of stripes down the window-line. In are the days of ‘subtle’ and ‘subliminal’ logos (such as the NW on the Northwest logo, and the arrow in FedEx). I think the eagle would look cool on the winglets!

    Reply
  68. malbarda Avatar
    malbarda

    I like the new font and the stylized eagle in the logo; when I saw that I thought it was going to look awesome on the AA tail. And then I saw the tail and was disappointed. I also saw the comment about Colgan air, but in that same thread I read (or on Twitter I read) someone asking why there are red and blue keys from a piano on the tail. That made me laugh because that is exactly what it looks like.

    Wonder what the new US Amercan is going to look like. They both (in name) already claim flag carrier status. Perhaps keep the American refreshed look and call it USAmerican?

    Reply
    1. Nick Barnard Avatar
      Nick Barnard

      The new airline is going to be called American. Thats settled. Which livery makes it through is a different story.

      Reply
  69. Big D in LAS Avatar
    Big D in LAS

    It’s funny how some folks are quick to complain about the cost to paint the new livery. What they fail to realize is that the cost would still exist with the old livery for all the new baby buses and 787’s, due to their composite nature. I wouldn’t expect any of the Mad Dogs or older 752’s to be repainted. Not a real fan of the new corporate logo and I expect the tail “flag” to grow on me.

    Reply
  70. chbrown03 Avatar
    chbrown03

    I didn’t care for it when I first saw it and it still hasn’t grown on me. I Tweeted as much and even got a response from American “hoping I would love it to in time.” So far that hasn’t happened.

    Reply
    1. Nick Barnard Avatar
      Nick Barnard

      Wow, it hasn’t grown on you in under 48 hours? Must be a bad livery, either that or you’re a bit impatient..

      Reply
      1. Jared Avatar
        Jared

        Yeah, I am starting to like it now. Especially seeing the pictures of an actual plane. The detail on the tail is pretty cool.

        I think the new Eagle looks neat when on the AAdvantage and gates and stuff.

        Reply
  71. Ellie Banda Avatar
    Ellie Banda

    It looks pretty comical and what happened to displaying not just the eagle, but what about the United States of America’s flag? It’s not pretty at all, it’s just different. And why are they doing this? Won’t they be changing their name to U.S. Airways soon anyway. I sure hope so. This airline has always been a predator and will always continue to be.

    Reply
    1. Nick Barnard Avatar
      Nick Barnard

      When American and US Airways merge the American name will survive..

      Reply
      1. Consuimer Mike Avatar
        Consuimer Mike

        Let us hope that your thoght does not happen. AA has not merged yet and in the end may not. So don’t count your chickens quite yet, my friend.

        Reply
        1. Nick Barnard Avatar
          Nick Barnard

          Oh, I fully expect that it’ll happen. I have already counted my chicken’s grand-chicks.

          Reply
          1. Consuimer Mike Avatar
            Consuimer Mike

            That’s the last thing Romney said on Election Day……

            Reply
  72. flyguy Avatar
    flyguy

    Keep in mind that some logos and livery changes are chosen because they are indeed easy to paint over or change in the event of merger.
    The “American” look was indeed iconic and survived many years.
    This new livery is rather “bold” in a not so good way! Sorta has a third world look and feel to it, like it should be on an old Ilyushin in Zaire.
    Time will tell, but it will most likey change after the merger.

    Reply
  73. PF Avatar
    PF

    I don’t like it – the tail is a bit too flashy, add some twinkle lights and it’s all set for Las Vegas.
    I like the retro AA plane

    Reply
  74. TMO Avatar
    TMO

    When you own an eagle. you wouldn’t trade it for a yardbird, much less abandon it out on the tarmac. At least the fuselage graphics are clean and uncluttered.

    The tail, especially the extra stripe below the horizontal stabilizer, is what happens when the artist over at the ad/design agency either, doubles his Prozac dosage or switches to a new “Speed’ dealer.

    Reply
  75. Joe Jones Avatar
    Joe Jones

    In real life, the gray paint is not nearly as shiny/reflective as they make it seem in the CGI. I think the real life version looks much worse than the CGI version.

    Reply
  76. DesertGhost Avatar
    DesertGhost

    On balance, I like it.

    Reply
    1. DesertGhost Avatar
      DesertGhost

      The new American livery focuses on a stylized American flag … US Airways’ logo is a stylized American flag … Hmmmm …

      Reply
  77. dls Avatar
    dls

    To me, it’s a branding exercise gone terribly wrong. Oddly, the tail is very similar to Aeroflot and Cubana de Aviación.

    Reply
    1. Samara Citizen Avatar
      Samara Citizen

      Have you ever seen Aeroflot planes? It’s nowhere near it.

      Reply
  78. Chris Randal Avatar
    Chris Randal

    They would be far better spending money on getting their on time performance back to levels that mean they are a real airline instead of the flag carrier for Disney. Mickey Mouse Airlines is what they really are.

    Reply
  79. Marshall Jackson Avatar
    Marshall Jackson

    I’m fine with it from the wings forward. In fact, I like the large “American” on the forward fuselage. But that tail art has to go.

    Reply
  80. CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD Avatar
    CJTaylor, Broad Creek, MD

    some people here are so very very provincial and self assured.. quite amusing

    Reply
  81. marks Avatar
    marks

    Hey, the colours of Liberia on the tail!

    Now that might save some money too if the company were to relocate there. (Joking, ok).

    Reply
  82. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I like it. It’s very fresh and contemporary. The Eagle, although subtle, is sophisticated and interesting. The tail took me a little while to get used to but I reckon after a few months and any more examples in service, we’ll all accept it and appreciate American’s point of difference. Well done American for the courage to make the change and use it as an analogy for changing their whole service philosophy

    Reply
  83. Pilotaaron1 Avatar
    Pilotaaron1

    I’m not the biggest fan yet. But I wasn’t the biggest fan of Delta’s latest but it grew on me. I’m sure this will. But at least it’s better than scraping off Continental and just writing United.

    Reply
  84. Todd in IAD Avatar
    Todd in IAD

    This picture sums it up nicely. fAAil.

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200560213352901&set=a.3667082080750.2171519.1385740735&type=3&theater

    Reply
  85. Todd in IAD Avatar
    Todd in IAD

    I believe this picture just about sums up the creativity, originality, and fiscal responsibility involved. . .
    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3667082080750.2171519.1385740735&type=1&l=7a82cb6759

    Reply
  86. Matthew Avatar
    Matthew

    To me the livery looks like something a movie executive came up with for a fictional airline in a movie, not an actual one, looks cheap….

    Reply
    1. Henry Avatar
      Henry

      True! Maybe this can be used for “Airport 2013″…

      Reply
  87. Eric C Avatar
    Eric C

    How horrible will this look on the MDs, ERJs, CRJs, and any other aft-engined aircraft they might fly? You’ll have a big silver engine blocking the lower third of the flag, followed by a long, narrow, silver fuselage. It’ll be fugly.

    Reply
    1. MartyNearDFW Avatar
      MartyNearDFW

      Hi, Eric,

      As I understand it, the Super 80s won’t be repainted. They’re just going to be retired. Not sure about the livery on the regional jets.

      =M=

      Reply
      1. Hunter Avatar
        Hunter

        I thought it looked ok on the cgi of the CR7.

        Reply
        1. Eric C Avatar
          Eric C

          Hunter, do you have a link to that CGI? I googled it, and our conversation comes up as the number one (and among the only) hit.

          Reply
  88. Henry Avatar
    Henry

    The “Flight Mark” reminds me of United’s tail design from the 1960s (pre-tulip). The tail has got to go. Everything else is okay, but the tail has got to go.

    I’ve done brand strategy, and have done work for several airlines. A good identity is intuitive and helps the person viewing it understand not only the name of the company, but some of its attributes. This tail is confusing, dizzy, and cluttered. I don’t believe those are attributes the teams at either Futurebrand or AA want associated with the airline.

    Reply
  89. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    As someone living outside of the US, the old silver tubes of American Airlines meant nothing to me. I think that American Airlines has done a great job with this design, in showing their patriotism. There is no question but that this is an American airline.

    Reply
  90. Roin Avatar
    Roin

    Instantly recognizable from long distance, so a good update, even if I dislike so many people/companies wrapping themselves in the flag.

    Reply
  91. Ed Kelty Avatar
    Ed Kelty

    The new tail helps our progress towards increased employment in the US. Imagine the design experts hired to design the tail, all the executives required to approve it, and the people who actually apply the paint!

    Reply
    1. Henry Avatar
      Henry

      Ha!

      Reply
  92. Henry Avatar
    Henry

    For anyone who doesn’t like the tail and would like to try to get AA to reconsider it, please join the Facebook group “fix the tAAil.” The Gap rescinded a planned logo change because of negative consumer response. If enough people who don’t like the tail make their voices heard, maybe AA will explore a change to the tail design.

    Reply
    1. Hunter Avatar
      Hunter

      Reminds me of the attempt to “save the tulip.” I wouldn’t count on a change at this point since for every person who hates it there seems to be one who at least likes it.

      Reply
  93. Docjames Avatar
    Docjames

    Have a look at a “real” photo (eg. on airliners.net) – its the reverse of usual in that the cgi looks better than real life.

    Disappointing – they could have done so much more…..

    Reply
  94. Brad Avatar
    Brad

    Maybe it’s just me, but the “beak” resembles nothing more than a very important and engorged part of the female anatomy… one that many men never seem to find. Well, I guess the debate is over; it’s the biggest one you’ve ever seen… how fitting that it rides a long metal tube into the heavens.

    Reply
    1. Henry Avatar
      Henry

      ^^^ Oh wow.

      Reply
  95. David SFeastbay Avatar
    David SFeastbay

    Just saw a TV ad with the new paint job. The body color and AMERICAN name look fine, the ‘eagle’ splotch doesn’t look good, and that awful tail does look like red/white/blue piano keys.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Adrian Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Cranky Flier